Lamp base with novel decorative shade



Dec. 8, 1959 L. A BROWN 2,916,608

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United States Patent 2,916,608 LAMP BASE WITH NOVEL DECORATIVE SHADE Lafayette A. Brown, Jacksonville, Fla. Application December 20, 1957, Serial No. 704,021 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-10) This invention relates to a table-type stand having a source of illumination, an ornamental lamp base, for example, and a decorative head which is supported in a unique manner and which, in the case of a table lamp, constitutes and functions as a novel shade for the source of illumination.

In carrying out certain underlying-principles of the concept the display media which goes up to make up the head may be fashioned to comply with the whims of discrete users. That is to say, it may be, and usually 1s, an imitation of a bouquet or bunch of flowers (artificial flowers) under which circumstances the shade, considered in conjunction with the base, and with the base of prerequisite design, provides in an over-all sense a unique floral lamp. However, the floral theme is not necessarily limiting. It is within the purview of the invention to construct and design the shade from Christmas tree ornaments and trinkets, artificial holly, fireproof leaves and so on, thus to enable the purchaser or user to dress the lamp base harmoniously and in keeping with the varying festive and seasonal events and occasions.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is that illustrated in the drawings, from which the observer will note that the lamp base may be somewhat usual in character except for its design and ornamental characteristics. To this end, matters of appearance and design will vary to meet the conformable nature of the ornamental head or shade. A skeleton fixture is provided and is novel in that it is equipped with bendable malleable wires or limbs flanking side portions of the frame to which they are attached. Available bendable fingers on the outer ends of the limbs serve to permit the do-it-yourself purchaser to attach ornaments, preferably flowers of choice. The limbs function as stems and may be distorted and formed to permit the flowers or other ornaments to be clustered around the lamp or light source thus to provide the design of the shade desired.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the finished ready-touse floral-type table lamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, with parts in ele vation, and showing the details of construction and how one goes about bending, twisting and attaching the ornamental flowers or the like.

Fig. 3 is an exploded" perspective view showing all of the basic structural parts of the novel lamp base.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the hollow base.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the tray-like bottom is attached to the base, the section being on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a group perspective view of the artificial fire- "ice proof cut-outs which are put together to form the pedals of the flowers.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a further step in making and attaching a flower to the outer end of one of the limbs or stems.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the completed and fully attached flower.

Referring now to the drawings reference is bad to Figs. 2 and 3 wherein the lamp base proper is denoted by the numeral 10. This is a hollow ceramic shell having a hole 12 in the top through and beyond which the screwthreaded nipple 14 extends. The inner end of the nipple is equipped with a washer 16 and an assembling and retaining nut 18. The internally screw-threaded neck 20 of the screw-threaded socket 22 is coupled to the upper protruding end of the nipple as shown in Fig. 2 to thus clampingly assemble the parts and to adapt the same for the support of the electric bulb or lamp 24. More specifically the lamp is screwed into the threads 26 of a screw threaded collar 28 at the bottom of the skeleton fixture which serves as the mount for the ornaments.

The part 28 screws into 22 and 26 serves to accommodate the lamp 24.

The ornament mounting and support means comprises a vertically elongated U-shaped frame 30 having its bight portion 32 at the top and its arms or legs 34 connected with the collar. These arms are flanked on opposite sides with a battery of ductile or bendable outstanding stems or limbs 36. Each limb is constructed from malleable wires 38 which are twisted together in the approximate manner illustrated. Instead of using wires the limbs may be made from twisted bands or strips of ribbon-like metal. In any event the outer ends are fashioned into attaching and assembling fingers 40 which serve, obviously, for attachment of the ornaments.

Reverting to the base it will be seen that the lower portion thereof is formed with a flat annulus 42 with circumferentially spaced screw holes 44 which accommodate the screws 46 (Fig. 5) which serve to fasten the bottom plate 48 in place. This plate may be more in the nature of a tray in which the bulbous base 10 is seated and fastened. It is provided with upstanding circumferentially spaced members 50 defining decorative leaves.

As before stated the term ornaments is here used to denote the objects, articles or other components which are attachable to the outer ends of the limbs. In the arrangement shown the ornaments" are artificial flowers preferably made from inflammable parts. For instance the companion cut-outs 52 are the same in outline or pattern but are superimposed on each other after folding and are attached by the fingers 40 to the outer ends of the bendable limbs. There is also a bead 54 serving as the center element and this is provided with attaching wires 56. These elements 54 may be standard plastic ball-shaped buttons strung by copper magnet wire. The cut-outs 52 in Fig. 6 are graduated and are put one on top of the other with the smallest one last. Three leaves will make up a complete flower. Care must be taken that each cut-out is folded sharply and evenly as they are put one on the other according to size. They are folded not only sharply and evenly but are pressed together and the plastic button with the attaching wire is put on top at the center so that all components are clamped ogether by the fingers 40 on the outer ends of the malleable wire limbs 36. The resultant flower" is indeed realistic in nature.

One may interpret the invention as a lamp base with a source of illumination and a floral type shade; or alternatively, as a bouquet or bunch of flowers and a sup porting base for illuminating the flowers.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skill-J in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An illuminated ornamental device comprising: a base, a substantially inverted U-shaped frame mounted vertically on said base, an electric lamp mounted on the base between the legs of the frame, a plurality of ductile arms having one end afiixed at spaced points to the frame, and artificial flowers on the other ends of said arms adapted to be positioned to substantially enclose the lamp to function as a shade therefor and to be illuminated thereby.

2. An illuminated ornamental device comprising: a base, a socket mounted on said base, a ring threadedly mounted in said socket, a substantially inverted U-shaped frame mounted vertically on said ring, an electric lamp threadedly mounted in said ring between the end portions of said frame, and a multiplicity of artificial flowers mounted for adjustment on the frame and adapted to be positioned to substantially surround the lamp for shading same and to be illuminated thereby.

3. An illuminated ornamental device comprising: a base, a socket mounted on said base, a ring threadedly mounted in said socket, a substantially inverted U-shaped frame mounted vertically on said ring, an electric lamp threadedly mounted in said ring between the end portions of said frame, and a multiplicity of artificial flowers mounted for adjustment on the frame and adapted to be positioned to substantially surround the lamp for shading same and to be illuminated thereby, said flowers comprising ductile stems including twisted together wires having one end portion aflixed to the frame, and petals on the free ends of the stems secured between the other end portions of said wires.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,727,700 Dickson Sept. 10, 1929 2,277,611 Schaaf Mar. 24, 1942 2,432,632 Cole et al. Dec. 16, 1947 2,772,500 Seibel Dec. 4, 1956 

